How to Say Down in German - Most Used Words
The word "down" in English can be translated into several different German words depending on the context, such as unten, hinunter, or herunter. This article will explore various ways to express "down" in German and provide examples for emotional states and time expressions.
How to Say Down in German: Basic Translations
The most universal definition of “down” in English is “towards or at a lower position or place.” In German, you can use the word unten, which means "below," "downstairs," or "at the bottom." Here are some example sentences:
- Ich möchte vielleicht eine Wohnung hier unten kaufen. – I may want to buy an apartment down here.
- Mehrere Informationen finden Sie unten. – For more information please see below.
- Normalerweise essen wir unten. – Normally, we eat downstairs.
Difference Between Unten and Unter
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Browse all 4 volumes →The word unten (pronounced [ˈʊntn̩]) is an adverb meaning "below" or "downstairs," while unter (pronounced [ˈʔʊntɐ]) is mostly a preposition. Here are some examples:
- Ich würde lieber unter einer Brücke schlafen. – I’d rather sleep under a bridge.
- Der Koeffizient muss unter 30 % liegen. – The coefficient must be below 30%.
- Unter uns muss ein Spion sein. – There must be a spy among us.
Moving Towards a Lower Position: Hinunter and Herunter
To express movement towards a lower position, you can use hinunter or herunter. The prefix hin- implies movement away from the speaker, while her- implies a movement towards the speaker. Here are some example sentences:
- Bitte kommen Sie herunter. – Please come down here. (The speaker is downstairs, and another person goes to him.)
- Geh hinunter ins Erdgeschoss! – Go downstairs! (Movement away from the speaker)
Emotional States: Feeling Down in German
The phrase "feeling down" can be translated into several German expressions. Here are some common ones:
- Ich fühle mich niedergeschlagen. – I feel depressed.
- Mir geht es nicht gut. – I don’t feel well.
- Ich bin traurig. – I am sad.
Phrasal Verbs with Down in German
German also has phrasal verbs that include the word "down." Here are a few examples:
- Er hat sich niedergelassen. – He settled down.
- Sie ist abgestürzt. – She crashed (literally: fell down).
Idiomatic Uses of Down in German
The word "down" can be used idiomatically to express a variety of concepts. Here are some examples:
- Er ist auf dem Sprung. – He is on the verge (of something).
- Sie hat den Kopf in den Sand gesteckt. – She has her head in the sand (idiom for ignoring reality).
How to Use Down in Time Expressions
The word "down" can also be used in time expressions, such as:
- Er hat sich entschieden, bis zum nächsten Jahr zu warten. – He decided to wait until next year (literally: down to).
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